Lawyer Seeks Scientologist Sentence

The Associated Press, September 22, 1999 By Jean-Charles Banoun

MARSEILLE, France (AP) - A prosecutor sought 2- to 3-year prison terms on
Wednesday for six members of the Church of Scientology on trial in France
for fraud, and called the organization a "monster that devours" its
followers' money.

Assistant Prosecutor Danielle Drouy-Ayral referred to the main defendant,
Xavier Delamare, as a "parasite" living at the expense of Scientology
offices in Marseille and Nice. Drouy-Ayral asked the court to convict
Delamare and punish him with a 3-year prison term, with 18 months suspended,
and the equivalent of a $32,000 fine.

The trial, which opened Monday and is to close Thursday, propelled the
controversial Church of Scientology back into the news in France, where it
is working to become recognized as a religion, not a sect.

Drouy-Ayral refused to enter the debate over whether Scientology is a
religion. Instead, he compared the Church of Scientology to "a monster
that
devours the money of its followers." He demanded that the court confiscate
the funds in the Scientology bank accounts seized during the investigation.

He sought two-year suspended prison terms against the five female
defendants, one of whom has since left the Church of Scientology.

Drouy-Ayral asked that the court use its own judgment in deciding the fate
of a seventh defendant who denounced the Church of Scientology as a
"swindle" after three months as a member.

The defense, pleading its case Thursday, was expected to argue that fraud
was an invalid charge because of the religious character of the Church of
Scientology.

The trial culminated a probe that began in 1990 against regional Scientology
leaders in Marseille and Nice for alleged fraud, illegal practice of
medicine and premeditated violence.

France has long had a contentious relationship with Scientology, whose
members include Tom Cruise, John Travolta and Kirstie Alley.

France registers the Church of Scientology on a list of 173 groups to be
tracked to prevent cult activity. Most other European countries do not
accept it as a religion.

Founded in 1954 by science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, the Los
Angeles-based organization teaches that technology can expand the mind and
help solve human problems.

To see more documents/articles regarding this group/organization/subject click here.